Chinese authorities claim that Apple’s iPhone location services pose a threat to national security threat as they can track and time-stamp users’ location, according to MyBroadband.

Currently, the location function on iOS 7 can be enabled or disabled by users, as it is used by the latest IPhone generation.

“We want to make sure all of our customers in China are clear about what we do and we don’t do when it comes to privacy and your personal data,” Apple said in a statement.

The director of the Institute for Security of the Internet from Beijing, Ma Ding, said sensitive information and “even state secrets” could be gathered by Apple’s locations function.

“As we have stated before, Apple has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services,” Apple said. “We have also never allowed access to our servers. And we never will. It’s something we feel very strongly about.”

Apple added that its location services are used for other purposes, such as checking the weather or finding the nearest restaurant.

“It’s important to point out that during this collection process, an Apple device does not transmit any data that is uniquely associated with the device or the customer,” Apple said.